Introduction: Thoracic drainage is an invasive procedure in which a thoracic drain or an intercostal catheter is inserted into the pleural space to allow air or fluid to drain from the pleural cavity. The indication for the insertion of a thoracic drain is different and may arise as a result of some disease, an injury in the chest area, artificial ventilation with positive pressure or spontaneously. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to present the care of the patient with an electronic thoracic drainage system and the advantages of this method over the classic thoracic drainage system with the help of a literature review. Methods: The research was based on a qualitative approach. A descriptive method of work was used. The data were obtained by reviewing the professional and scientific literature. We used Slovene and English literature in the field of preoperative nursing, which we obtained from the bibliographic databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed and Dikul. To search for literature, we also examined the professional journal Zdravstveni vestnik. The inclusion criteria were the year of publication from 2014 - 2024, the availability of the entire text and the content of the article on the selected topic. When searching for literature, we used the words in Slovenian and English: electronic thoracic drainage, thoracic drain, pleural space, nurse or nursing. Results: The use of an electronic thoracic drainage system was found to be comfortable, safe and well tolerated by patients. The role of the nurse in a patient in whom insertion of a thoracic drain is indicated is important. Discussion and conclusion: Research and practical experience show that the electronic thoracic drainage system has many advantages over the classic, analogue one. Electronic thoracic drainage systems have become more acceptable, more useful, and the first choice of drainage system type. The electronic thoracic drainage system is comfortable, safe and well tolerated by patients; it helps to reduce or eliminate the cost of a hospital stay, as according to various studies published in recent years, the drain can be removed earlier and thus patients can be discharged from the hospital earlier. There is very little research available on the role of the nurse in the use of an electronic thoracic drainage system. Above all, the fact of the safe use of the electronic thoracic drainage system is important, which must be emphasized in the education and training of the multidisciplinary team involved in the treatment of patients with the electronic thoracic drainage system.
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